What Stoicism and Buddhism Taught Me About Leadership

My 20s taught me business.

My 30s taught me philosophy.

Now I build and lead from both.

Two frameworks have shaped the way I lead—internally and externally:

• Buddhism, through mindfulness, compassion, and letting go.

• Stoicism, through resilience, discipline, and radical responsibility.

They’re not just spiritual concepts.

They’re performance tools.

🧘‍♂️ Buddhism: Presence Over Panic

I discovered mindfulness in my early 20s—when I first started dealing with anxiety.

It grounded me. Slowed my mind. Helped me see the space between stimulus and response.

That’s the space where clarity lives.

And leadership begins.

What Buddhism gave me:

• The ability to observe without reacting

• Detachment from outcomes

• Understanding impermanence (everything changes—especially in business)

• Compassion for others, without needing to control them

When I lead from this space, I don’t force.

I guide. I hold space. I act when it’s time—and I know when to wait.

🛡️ Stoicism: Discipline Over Drama

My Stoic shift came later—through trauma.

A messy breakup.

A near-death experience.

A stretch of life that demanded brutal acceptance.

I had to separate myself from emotion—not by suppressing it, but by transcending its grip.

What Stoicism gave me:

• Control over my internal state

• The ability to suffer with purpose

• Emotional resilience during chaos

• Clarity under pressure

When things go wrong in business, I don’t spiral. I simplify.

🔁 How I Lead Now

My leadership style is quiet but clear.

I don’t raise my voice.

I don’t micromanage.

I don’t attach my self-worth to outcomes.

But I also don’t tolerate chaos, ego, or excuse-making.

Compassion without standards is weakness.

Standards without compassion is tyranny.

I lead from the centre.

And it works.

🧠 For Founders Looking for Peace + Power

If you’re scaling a business, your mindset isn’t just personal—it’s structural.

Your team will mirror your emotional tone.

Your business will reflect your inner state.

So fix your operating model.

But also fix your relationship with chaos.

👉 Start With Stillness

→ [Download the Founder Reflection Journal (Coming Soon)]

→ Or [Book a Fit Call] to work with someone who understands both systems and soul

‍